Imagining Toronto in the Year 2050

#Picture2050 Photography Contest Winners

Julia Band Orange, Moving in Colour,in the Youth Category (Age 12 to 17)

Shafi Chowdhury, Trees for 2050!, in the Kid’s Category (Age 11 and under)

Check out all of the finalists’ photos in our photo gallery below. Click on any photo to view the gallery.

The photos were exhibited at Toronto City Hall January 22nd to 25th, along with the fifteen finalists.

Celebrate with us!

Join us at the Picture2050 Awards Celebration on Tuesday, February 6th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Members’ Lounge at City Hall. Register here.

The work of 15 finalists will be displayed at the event.
Prizes will be awarded, and there will be light refreshments.

(Note: if you are accompanying one of the finalists, please register with them at the link they received.)

Winners and Finalists

High Rise Garden

Name: C. Pang

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Winner

A community garden at San Romanoway, North York, Toronto.
The available green space of the residential buildings site is converted to a community garden.
The garden addresses the food security issue, enhances community building, helps to store carbon in the ground to reduce greenhouse gases.
It is a project of Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

Moving in Colour

Name: Julia Band Orange

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Winner

More Environmentally Friendly Transportation

In 2050, I would like to see two things. Firstly, more environmentally friendly and accessible transportation. It is getting hard to move around lately, and we are hurting the environment when we do.
Also, I would like people to remember to use colours when fixing certain problems, so that the world does not get darker than it already is.

Toronto Chinatown

Trees for 2050!

Name: Shafi Chowdhury

Category: Kids' Award, Age 11 & under

Place: Winner

This tree makes Toronto look better. If we didn’t have trees, birds would have nowhere to live. We wouldn’t have fruits and vegetables without trees.

Prairie Drive Park, Scarborough

Island Kayaks

Name: Henry VanderSpek

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

A view of downtown from the Toronto Islands. In my Toronto in 2050, more people will be actively enjoying the beauty of Toronto’s parks and natural environment.
Kayaks, ferries, and clean forms of public transportation will help get people to these destinations – which by then, will be close and easy to access for all citizens.

Toronto Islands

Feeding the pollinators that feed us

Name: Patti Callahan

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

A Common Eastern Bumble Bee collects nectar from Teasel.
With concerns about declining bee populations, pesticide-free Toronto is a place bees can flourish.If our valley green spaces are full of wildflowers and we plant flowers that bees enjoy in our gardens, we will be supporting urban farming.

Taylor Creek/East Don River Trail

Green Revolution

Name: Geoff Inwood

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

Reclamation and rehabilitation of former industrial sites along the Don Valley will provide renewed green spaces and a clean waterway to be enjoyed amid an ecologically sound metropolis.

Don Valley Trail

Vertical City

Name: Michael Eastman

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

By building taller, Toronto will save energy, support increasing population demands and preserve horizontal spaces for nature and recreation.

Midtown Toronto

Powered by Nature

Name: Henry VanderSpek

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

A kite surfer’s path matches a row of Canadian geese, and a series of sailboats.
In my Toronto in 2050, the city will be a leader in powering homes and office buildings with natural energy sources such as wind and water.

Lake Ontario, just south of the Toronto Islands
Photo taken from the Toronto Islands

Solar Roof

Name: C. Pang

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

Solar panels are installed on the south facing roof of Beach United Church. The church building with the solar panel blends well with the environment.
Renewable energy will be the key energy source in 2050 to prevent catastrophic climate change. Fossil fuels must be replaced by renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a safe level in 2050.

Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Avenue, Toronto

Fresh Food, Fresh Air

Name: Henry VanderSpek

Category: Adult Award, Age 18 & Over

Place: Honourable Mention

A pedestrian walks with his groceries in Regent Park. In my Toronto in 2050, more people will be able to access fresh food, and other day-to-day essentials, by walking or biking. The result will be cleaner air and a healthier and happier population.

Regent Park, Parliament and Dundas

Urgent Convergence

Name: Alice Cheng

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

Juxtaposition of Timeless Nature and Modern Innovation amidst a Changing Climate.

This re-purposed industrial site and idyllic community hub pays tribute to the Lower Don’s rich history. It is a getaway far from the bustle of downtown Toronto, yet close enough to remind you of the hustle.

The Evergreen Brick Works is where I go to recharge my spirits, seek creative inspiration, and appreciate the city’s vast ravine system and sustainable urban design principles. Until next time!

Evergreen Brick Works

Sunlit Toronto

Name: Mariam Adnan

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

Solar power is a key to life. It’s everywhere. Whether it be plants, animals, or us humans, we all need sunlight.

So when I took this picture, I looked at the sunlight peeking through the trees and thought that the Toronto community needs more solar panels to put that sunlight into more use. There are 311 schools in the TDSB that use solar panels. I hope that Toronto can increase that amount.

Home Garden

This picture is showing my fruit and vegetable garden in my backyard. We grow many sorts of vegetables and fruits.
This picture inspired me to imagine how 2050 would look.

If we grow more fruits and vegetables in our gardens in Toronto by 2050, this would be a great way for everyone to live a healthier life. This also reduces the amount of fruits and vegetables being imported to our country.

Scarborough

A Step Closer To Nature

Name: Jade Law

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

As technology is becoming more developed I believe that we will be able to create new inventions that will help make our environment better. Nowadays people are starting to use more environmentally friendly products like green vehicles.

I believe that in 2050 the temperature will become better resulting in beautiful views. Then more people will start getting out of their homes to enjoy nature.

Bluffers Park, Scarborough

Day At The Beach

Name: Shori-Anne Clarke

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

This photo is to show how clean and clear Lake Ontario is: no garbage, no dead animals or fish, just clear.

This shows that we should keep the lake like this for the next few years. This picture was take a few months ago showing how the lake is not dried out or polluted.

Toronto

Recycling Clowns

Name: Ocean Durham

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

Painted Blue Bin in Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley, Toronto

Danzig Street

Name: D'Andre Roomes

Category: Youth Award, Age 12 to 17

Place: Honourable Mention

Danzig Street is a tough environment in Scarborough. There is lots of community housing there as you can see in the photo. These houses are a very good place for the city to put solar panels on top of the houses. This could save money on energy and help poor people afford to live. Also we could build areas for recreation like a soccer field or a better basketball court for the neighbourhood kids.

Scarborough

Greenery

Name: Laiba Zubair

Category: Kids' Award, Age 11 & under

Place: Honourable Mention

I want Canada to look more green with plants. I want more eco-friendly people. I want people to put garbage in bins.

Prairie Drive Park, Scarborough

Judges

Our thanks to the thirteen volunteer judges who generously donated their time to #Picture2050.

The panel represented a variety of organizations, community groups, educational institutions and the City of Toronto.